Improvement in reed-organs



ZSheesuSheSH. W. H. GERQSH., Reed-Grgans. [90.134,536@ Q4 Patentedlan.7,1.873.

2 Sheets--Sheet k W. H. GERRISH.

Reed-Organs.

Patented Jan. 7, 1873.

Wa Z Messes UNrTED STATES PATENT FFICE.

WlllLlAM H. GERRISB, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN REED-ORGANS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 134,536, dated January 7, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, WILLIAM H. GEnRrsH, of Boston, in the count-y of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Reed-Organs, of which the following is a specification:

The first part of my invention relates to the construction of the case and the cover for closing the same; and it consists in the application, to the case ot' a reed musica-l instrument, of a iieXible sliding cover, arranged in grooves formed in either end of the casein such a manner that it may be slid back over the action, and down behind the same it' necessary, for the purpose of opening the case, said cover being formed of a series of narrow strips of wood beaded or otherwise ornamented, arranged side by side and extending across the instrument from side to side, and secured to a cloth back or to any other suitable ilexible material. It also consists in the combination, with a iiexible sliding cover, of a means of clamping said cover when open, so as to prevent all rattle of said cover while the instrument is being played, which may be aecomplished bythe act of opening the cover, or it may be done by drawing either of the stops.

In the drawing, Figure l is aplan of an organ embodying my improvements, with a portion of the top removed and the sliding cover open; Fig. 2 is a transverse section on line l 2, on Fig. 1, looking to the left; and Fig. 3 is a similar section on line 3 4,011 Fig. 1,1001;- ing to the right. Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section of one corner of the case on line 5 6 on Fig. l; and Fig. 5 is a corresponding` section ot' the opposite corner on line 7 8 on Fig. l.

A A are the two ends of the case, having formed therein the curved grooves cm, in which the cover B slides in an obvious manner. The cover B is made up of a series of narrow wooden strips, b b, firmly secured to a iiexible back of cloth or other suitable material.

It is evident that a cover so tted would be subject to more or less jar or rattle occasioned by the vibration ofthe reeds, unles sthe slack of the iit in the grooves was taken up. This may be accomplished in a variety of ways, two of which are shown in the drawing.

rlhe clamping device may be self-acting, or be brought into action by the act of opening the cover itself, as shown in Figs. l, 3, and 4, where c is a bar of wood, or other suitablematerial, hinged to the side of the case and having a spring, d, pressing upon its upper side, as shown, the lower side ofthe bar c being covered with cloth or felt c. The front end of the bar c is cut away upon its under side to facilitate the entering ot' the rear edge of the cover under the same, or the bar may be made long enough to always bear upon the cover in whatever position said cover may be. When the cover B is slid back so as to open the instrument the whole tension of the spring' d is forcing said cover downward upon the under side of the groove a in an obvious manner, and ett'ectually prevents all unpleasant jar or vibration ot' said cover.

Another modiiication ot' the clamping de vice is shown on the left hand in Fig. l, in Fig. 2, and in Fig. 5, in which the pressurebarfis hinged to the side of the case below the cover B, and is acted upon by the stopbar g when it is drawn to raise the bar f and press it hard against the under side of the cover, and thereby raise said cover hard against the upper side of the groove a.

The' bar f may be so arranged and combined with the stops of an organ as to be operated by either or all of them, so that whenever the instrument is in a condition to be played upon the cover B will always be clamped.

C is the key constructed and hung in the. usual manner, but provided with the adjustable spring-rest t', secured by one end to the under side thereof, and a set-screw, j, for adjusting the free end of said rest for the pur pose of leveling the keys.

What l claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States,

1. The flexible sliding cover B, arranged to move in the curved grooves a a, as herein set forth, in combination with the case and action of a reed-organ, substantially as described.

2. The tlexible sliding cover B, in combination with the case of a musical instrument, and any suitable means for clamping the same 't0 vprevent; vibration thereof', substanthe stop-bar g, arranged and operating subtially as described. stantially as described, for vthe purposes Spec- 3. The combination of the exible sliding ied. cover B, the case A, the pressure-bar c, and Executed at; Boston this 10th day of Sepspring d, all constructed and operating subtember, 1872. suntially as described,for the purpose spec- WM. H. GERRISH. ied. Witnesses:

4. The combination of the eXible sliding S. A. WOOD, cover B, the case A, the pressure-berry, and H. E. LOMBARD. 

